Acoustic trauma enhances DNA binding of transcription factor AP-I in the guinea pig inner ear

Radiolabeled probes for the transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1 ), bound differentially to nuclear fractions of discrete structures of the guinea pig cochlea (organ of Corti, lateral wall tissues, and spiral gangli on). Noise exposure (4 kHz octave band, 115 dB, for 5 h) significantly incr eased AP-1 binding in both the organ of Corti and lateral wall tissues but not in the spiral ganglion. Supershift analysis using an antibody against c -Fos protein demonstrated that enhancement of AP-1/DNA binding was at least in part due to the expression of c-Fos protein. These results suggest that AP-1 is involved in the molecular mechanism(s) mediating noise-induced coc hlear damage. NeuroReport 11:859-862 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins .